Free BCLDB Events Feature Wines of Argentina

From the Dana Lee Consulting media release:

The diversity and great value of Argentinean wines will be front and centre at provincial liquor stores this summer. From July 29th to September 1st, 2018, 60 BCLDB stores will have Argentinean wines on display, and there will be free consumer tastings at select BCLDB locations.

The BCLDB Signature Liquor Store at 39th & Cambie will host free consumer tastings on August 10th AND Friday, August 17th. Guests will enjoy samples of top Argentinean wines paired with complimentary traditional meat and vegetarian empanadas from Panaderia Latina Bakery.

There will also be free consumer tastings at select BC Liquor Stores. The events will take place on the weekend of August 3rd & 4th, as well as the weekend of August 24th & 25th.

Featured wines will include:

• Alamos Winery Malbec Bodega Catena Zapata High Mountains Malbec
• Bodegas Escorihuela1884 Estate Grown Malbec
• Bodegas Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec
• Doña Paula Estate Malbec
• El Esteco Don David Cabernet Sauvignon
• Luigi Bosca Malbec
• Luis Segundo Correas Valle Las Acequias Malbec
• Masi Passo Doble Malbec
• Penaflor La Mascota Cabernet Sauvignon
• Penaflor Unanime
• Susana Balbo Wines BenMarco Malbec

In addition, Wines of Argentina is accepting entries for an online contest. The prize package includes 2 nights' accommodation at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler; 2 tickets to Cornucopia's flagship event, Crush Grand Tasting; and 2 tickets to the festival's Wines of Argentina seminar. Visit https://whistlercornucopia.com/contests/ to enter; contest closes August 31, 2018.

Wines of Argentina Consumer Tastings

Signature BCLDB Store at 39th & Cambie

5555 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Friday, August 10th AND Friday, August 17th 2018

2:00 - 6:00pm

Try This, Cellar That - Argentinian Malbec

With this edition we showcase Argentinian Malbec:

Try This...

Bodegas Escorihuela 2015 '1884' Reserva Malbec - $18
A doppelganger to the excellent 2014 edition, with a similar profile that combines red and black berries, sweet pipe tobacco, herbs and spice on the feminine nose and medium-plus bodied palate where the long-ish finish is nicely framed by fine, smoky tannins, rounded, berry acidity and lingering spice. Drink now-2019.
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Cellar That...

Rutini Wines 2015 Trupeter Malbe - $21
A graceful, approachable Malbec with evenly matched fruit and savoury characters: blackberry, cherry, charred oak, sweet spice, licorice and fig. Full-ish, with good texture and smooth, smokey tannins. Shows potential for further development over the next 2-3 years.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Celebrate Malbec World Day with Free Wine Tastings

This year's Malbec World Day falls on Monday, April 17th, and British Columbia will get a jump on the celebrations with free Argentinean wine tastings at 5 private stores.  In addition, select BCLDB stores throughout the province will offer free tastings of Argentinean wines in April.

In BC, the following private stores will host complimentary consumer tastings.  Each store will pour at least 6 different Malbecs and Malbec blends, paired with samples of authentic Argentinean cuisine.

Saturday April 8 2017:

Everything Wine

North Vancouver, South Surrey & Langford locations

2:00 to 6:00pm

Marquis Wine Cellars

1034 Davie Street, Vancouver

With traditional empanadas from Panaderia Latina Bakery

PLUS a DJ will provide music at this lively event - 

2:00 to 5:00pm 

(Donations accepted to the BC Hospitality Foundation)

Saturday April 15 2017:

Legacy Liquor Store

1633 Manitoba Street, Vancouver 

2:00 to 6:00pm

Also:

• Keep an eye on Icon Scores for new reviews of Malbecs in March and April.
• BC Liquor Stores across the province will host over 50 Malbec World Day tastings.
• Follow twitter @ArgentinaWineCA or #MalbecWorldDay for ALL locations.

Monthly Picks: April '14 - World Malbec Day

April's only official statutory holiday is Easter, but there's another fun fiesta worth making on your calendar taking place on the 17th: World Malbec Day.

Yes, it's a creation of the Wines of Argentina marketing machine, but we're willing to put that aside and embrace the manufactured reason to enjoy a bottle of Malbec along with millions of our wine-loving peers world wide.

Many liquor stores and wine shops have also embraced the idea, so look for complimentary Malbec tastings at your local haunt on the day. Sip, quaff and take home a bottle. Or, for those of you in too much of a hurry to stop and go through a few samples, here are some Malbec recommendations to fulfil your quick shopping requirements:

Graffigna 2011 Centenario Reserve Malbec - $14.50
Impressive intensity and balance of aromas on the nose of this Malbec with ripe blackberry and sweet spices in the lead supported by light, toasted oak and sun-drenched rock notes.
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Pascual Toso 2012 Malbec - $15
This easy-drinking, fruit-forward Malbec offers plenty of juicy, ripe cherry and tangy wild-blackberry fruit on the otherwise spicy-vanilla nose and the mild-mannered palate where light tannins and acidity play a supporting role to the hero of the wine, its tangy, fleshy fruit.
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Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón 2012 '1884' Reservado Malbec - $17
There's a warm smokiness on the nose of this Malbec that envelopes the blue fruit, mocha and light spice aromas while hints of vanilla and oak poke through the fog adding impressive depth and complexity for this price point.
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Luigi Bosca 2011  Malbec - $20
A very pure expression of Malbec with a focus on the balance between the natural, fleshy-fruit and peppercorn qualities of the variety. Some oak influence from 12 months in French barrels is perceptible and successfully enhances both the blackberry and plum-infused nose and the modern, fruit-forward, easy-drinking palate. 
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Michel Torino 2011 Don David Finca La Maravilla #6 - $20
This inky-purple, single-vineyard Malbec from the Cafayate Valley packs a punch. Albeit, a well-balanced, accurate punch. Should make for an excellent pairing with a fine cut of beef, either grilled or broiled.
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Bodega Norton 2010 Reserva Malbec - $20
Warm, inviting and layered, the Reserva from Bodegas Norton is the Malbec for lovers of red wines with character, a sense of place and bold fruit but without the residual sweetness all too common among red wines these days.
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River Stone Estate Winery 2012 Malbec Rosé - $20
Bold, both in hue and in flavour, the River Stone Malbec Rosé is one of the more colourful and fuller-bodied blush wines on the market in BC today.
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Perseus Winery 2011 Select Lots Syrah Malbec - $29
Sourced from vineyards in the Similkameen Valley and Osoyoos, this blend of 68% Syrah, 23% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot offers ripe and spicy red and blue fruit aromas on a charming nose enhanced with toasted oak notes and hints of cinnamon sticks.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

WCOW: Germany VS. Argentina

To celebrate the 2010 World Cup of Soccer in South Africa we are hosting a few nation VS. nation competitions of our own whenever two major wine producing countries meet.

Match 6 has Germany facing Argentina in a classic Quarterfinals battle on the pitch and a war of aromatic whites off the field. Native to Argentina, the Torrontés grape produces lovely white wines that have refreshing acidity and thrive in cold, dry conditions - similar to Riesling grown in Germany. Both wines are under $25 and both are new to us at Icon Wines.

Germany's Wine: Schloss Reinhartshausen 2008 Riesling
Region: Rheingau
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 12%
Notes: Dry but fruity with the slightest hint of residual sugar coming from the concentrated fruit flavours. Tangy citrus palate with lemon sorbet and grapefruit peel. Youthful aromas of lime zest and slate. Good quality and well balanced.

Argentina's Wine: Crios de Susana Balbo 2009 Torrontés
Region: Cafayate
Cost: $17.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Notes: Dry with just the slightest residual sugar. Aromas of honey, spring flowers, apricots, tangerines and light minerals notes. Flavours of citrus fruit and bitter steel with vibrant acidity. Good quality and well balanced. Good typicity for a Torrontés.

The Conclusion:

Complexity (Nose): Crios de Susana Balbo
Complexity (Palate): Schloss Reinhartshausen
Food Friendly: Schloss Reinhartshausen
Concentration: Schloss Reinhartshausen
Expression of Terroir: Crios de Susana Balbo
Value: Crios de Susana Balbo
Winner: Crios de Susana Balbo

The off-field match-up was very tight (as was the battle on the pitch). The Torrontés wins the battle for its expression of terroir and vibrancy. If you have yet to try an Argentina Torrontés do so soon! It makes a unique alternative to traditional Riesling.
- Liam Carrier

Next Match: TBA - If Spain goes through we'll have a Semi-Final match with two world wine powers facing off.

WCOW: Argentina Single Red Varietal Nationals

Country: Argentina

Manager: Liam Carrier


This week we head down to South America and look at a couple unique wines at opposite ends of the oak-aging spectrum. I haven't included a Malbec in this try-out (yet) to highlight the availability of quality wines made from unique grapes in Argentina. Both Bonarda and Tannat are originally from Europe but have found a welcome home in the wonderful grape growing regions of Argentina.


Wine #1: Los Moras 2007 Reserve Tannat
Cost: $15-17
Region: Valle del Tulum - San Juan
Notes: 16 months in oak. Great aging potential with fine tannins and good acidity. Shows promise as a unique alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon. Drinking a bit young at the moment.
Full Review: Follow Link
Score: 87+ points

Wine #2: Bodegas Sur De Los Andes 2007 Bonarda
Cost: $14
Region: Mendoza
Notes: Unoaked. Dark fruits, cherry nibs, blueberries, cassis and vanilla notes. Made the Icon Wines top ten list for value wines of 2009.
Full Review: Follow Link
Score: 88 points

Conclusion: The Bonarda fruit-bomb is one fun wine to drink. It is ready to drink now and i think will be a great entry into the WCOW next June in the Single-Red Varietal blind tasting. The Tannat, although a good quality wine in its own right, has not yet peaked. I'm hoping to get my hands on another bottle or two for my cellar to age for two years and see if the tannins mellow and balance out the palate.

The next time you are perusing the shelves of your local wine shop looking for a good under-priced, over-delivering Argentina wine, try skipping the familiar Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon and pick up a bottle of Bonarda or Tannat. You will be pleasantly surprised. - LC